Taste: Opens with caramel and toasted malt, as the taste progresses, there is a distinct note of dark bread. Late in the taste, there is a bit of restrained fruitiness. Finishes with a lingering, sturdy toasted malt note.

Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, full, and pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: Fine example of the style, pairs well with bratwurst and potato salad.

Presentation: Packaged in a stubby twelve-ounce brown glass bottle with a twist-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.

A – Quite opaque, barely translucent, but has some clarity when the light is right. Brown. Head nearly dissipates completely; when I opened it, it seemed the carbonation was a tad low.

S – Cocoa, dark fruit, and medicine. The medicine almost seemed to be alcohol at first. The cocoa smells very much like a dark chocolate bar, not powder. The dark fruit is fig and prune, perhaps a bit of cherry. The medicinal smell has sort of changed into a more plastic smell now. I don’t pick up any wheat.

T – A very cocoa-y dunkelweizen, with dark fruit notes in the middle and a medicinal cocoa taste on the back end. Kind of like putting dark cocoa powder into some fig juice and adding a splash of cough syrup; perhaps this could be a substitute drink for some pro athletes. It’s not bad, but it’s not good. There is also a lightness in the taste, a cold strawberry note that comes out between the middle and end that makes the taste somewhat refreshing. I’d give it a higher taste score for being interesting, but it’s missing the flavors I associate with a dunkelweizen. It’s more like a sessionable chocolate stout (with an off-flavor).

M – Medium bodied, kind of soft except on the tip of the tongue. Low carbonation but does seem like a sipper. The taste keeps the mouthfeel feeling agile.

O – While this is pretty off-style and aged, I think it has changed in an interesting way and remains drinkable enough, unless you’re really into style accuracy. It maintains some refreshingness despite the medicinal off-taste, and the cocoa is very present but not overpowering. 3, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25; 2.85.

Review from notes; picked up a 12 oz bottle on a late August visit to Iowa (bought at John's in IC), consumed mid-October. Dated 08/16/12. Poured to a pint glass back home in Oregon.

"Unchained Series - Batch 09"

A: Deep copper-orange coloring, moderate carbonation. Loud, fizzing head, (almond colored and soda-like), building to about a finger, dissipating rather quickly. Slim lace bands linger before fading. A little hazy, as it should be.

S: I originally gave a 3.5 (before the new .25 point grading), but adjusted today; it was a category I recall wavering on... Good bready/fruity aroma - apple, raisin clove and roasted nuttiness.

T: Mild 'banana' flavor, MUCH stronger 'clove' spicing. Not to say it's over-bearing or imbalanced - it is neither - but earthy/dry clove plays a part in initial tastes and beyond (see Mouthfeel).

M: VERY fizzy carbonation in the mouth, bordering on too much. Light-medium body, but a trailing clove/spice zing adds a nice finish.

O: Pretty likeable dunkel, at the end of the day. Have only had one other chance to try ANYthing from Summit (that on a layover at MSP several years ago), so it was nice to get a seasonal/limited sipper like this. Authentic to the Germanic standards, solid all-around. Would I have this again? Absolutely.

There's a toasted barley character throughout the flavor profile, with notes of chocolate and nuttiness. Tangy orange, wheat, banana, and coriander lurk beneath. The finish it's slightly dry and fairly toasty.

Body is creamy and on the full side, with carbonation lightening things up a bit.

Overall, a great example of the style. Malt and hefe yeast esters blend well. Not enough toasted and roasted flavors to dominate, but they add complexity to the banana, wheat, and orange flavors.